Welcome to the Run Culture Podcast. In this podcast I discuss the fundamental principles that underpin pain free successful distance running. My name is Dane Verwey, I am an experienced running physiotherapist and distance runner of 20 plus years.
What separates a good coach from a great one?
I had the absolute privilege of chatting with Mike Smith, former NAU coach and now leading Nike Swoosh TC, coaching some of the world's best distance runners.
We chatted about Parker Wolfe, Ethan Strand and Nico Young, their transition into professional running, building a great training culture and finding an edge through creativity.
But what I enjoyed most was hearing Mike talk about the human side of coaching.
The importance of listening. Understanding an athlete's fears. Building trust. Having honest conversations. And helping people become more than just better runners.
We also got into what Pat Henner, Jack Daniels and Chris Miltenberg have taught him about humility, friendship and coaching with genuine care.
Mike's a pretty special thinker, but what stood out most was how generous, thoughtful and genuine he was with every answer.
I came away from this one feeling pretty inspired and with plenty to reflect on in my own coaching.
A really valuable listen for any runner, coach or anyone interested in helping people get the best out of themselves.
Huge thanks to Mike for his time and to Chris Miltenberg for making the conversation possible.
🎧 Run Culture Podcast - Episode 208
16 Oct 2026
Ep 207- Shannon Thompson | Race With Freedom, Not Fear
What if your biggest race-day limiter isn’t fitness- but your mindset?In this episode, Shannon Thompson, a mental performance coach for elite distance runners in Flagstaff, shares practical tools to help you race with less fear and more freedom.We explore: The mountain and the weather - understanding fear and anxiety when racing gets tough. The heart of the race - deciding who you want to be and how you want to show up in the race. A loose race plan - focusing less on outcomes and more on what you can control: staying present and committing to the actions you can take, regardless of how you feel.Packed with insights for runners and coaches at every level. Listen now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Explore Shannon’s work: Website: https://shannonthompsonmpc.com/ (https://shannonthompsonmpc.com/)
Focus Sessions: https://shannonthompsonmpc.com/focus-session-series/ (https://shannonthompsonmpc.com/focus-session-series/)
Free Session 1: https://shannonthompsonmpc.com/2026-fall-focus-session-series-session-one/ (https://shannonthompsonmpc.com/2026-fall-focus-session-series-session-one/)
Register for the 7-session summary: https://portal.campnetwork.com/Register/Register.php?camp_id=396864 (https://portal.campnetwork.com/Register/Register.php?camp_id=396864)
14 Aug 2026
Ep 206- Archie's Road to the '2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games'!
In Ep 206 of the Run Culture Podcast, Archer Hewett joins host and training partner; Liam Hemmingway and his coach Dane Verwey for a chat about his recent 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games experience!
Over the past 4 years there have been several points where Archie wasn’t sure he wanted to continue 'competitive running'.Fast forward a few years and he’s representing Australia at the Commonwealth Games and finishing 4th in the Men's T20 1500m.Dane, Liam and Archie get into the whole journey - losing the love for running through COVID, finding para-athletics, building confidence, dealing with nerves, training, nutrition and getting his head right when it matters.We also get into the stuff around the racing that you don’t always hear about. Spain. Glasgow. Life on the road. Drug testing at 9:30pm the night before the race. And probably most importantly, finding the people and environment that make you feel like you actually belong.There’s a lot in this one.And Archie’s definitely not done yet.Latest episode of the Run Culture Podcast - out now wherever you listen.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.0 / 5
2 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
17 ratings
Contact Run Culture Podcast
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
